Results 1,501-1,520 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Consumer Rights (16 Feb 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I certainly will pass that on to the Minister.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Climate Change Policy (16 Feb 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I apologise that the Minister is unable to be here himself and he has asked me to respond to this matter. I listened with great interest to what the Deputy said about the situation in Galway. While I am a very strong supporter of more cycle lanes everywhere I cannot, on behalf of the Government, intervene in that particular discussion here in the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Climate Change Policy (16 Feb 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I reiterate that I am not able to get involved with the discussion on Galway and the detail of what Galway City Council has done this week. I agree with the Deputy that the change required to deal with climate change can be difficult but I have yet to see people regret the change once it has been made, whether it is electric cars or more footpaths or cycle lanes or, in my own area, the...

Seanad: Uyghur Tribunal: Motion (9 Feb 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí, go háirithe an Seanadóir McDowell ós rud é gur chuir sé agus a chomhghleacaithe an rún seo os comhair an tSeanaid inniu. Is ábhar an-tábhachtach é sin. The countermotion my colleague Senator Horkan has put forward on behalf of the Government takes account of our deep concern about the situation...

Seanad: Uyghur Tribunal: Motion (9 Feb 2022)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister, Deputy Coveney, would have presented it to the Cabinet.

Seanad: Uyghur Tribunal: Motion (9 Feb 2022)

Thomas Byrne: The officials from the Department would not have been present at the Cabinet.

Seanad: Uyghur Tribunal: Motion (9 Feb 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Did the Senator read the speech?

Seanad: Uyghur Tribunal: Motion (9 Feb 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Senator Mullen was not listening to what I said.

Seanad: Uyghur Tribunal: Motion (9 Feb 2022)

Thomas Byrne: That is not what I said.

Seanad: Uyghur Tribunal: Motion (9 Feb 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I never said-----

Seanad: Uyghur Tribunal: Motion (9 Feb 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I said specifically that I will leave it in the hands of the Senators.

Legacy Issues in Northern Ireland and New Decade, New Approach: Statements (1 Feb 2022)

Thomas Byrne: The legacy of the Troubles continues to impact on so many families and communities across this island and beyond as they continue, rightly, to seek truth and justice for their loved ones. The issue has been at the forefront of all our minds in recent days as the events marking the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday took place in Derry. It was an emotional moment across the island and beyond...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Northern Ireland (1 Feb 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Tá áthas orm bheith anseo inniu ar son an Rialtais chun an díospóireacht seo a fhreagairt. Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis an Seanadóir Ó Donnghaile as a smaointe a thabhairt dúinn maidir leis an ábhar tábhachtach seo. The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Marie Anderson, last month published a report concerning the RUC's handling of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Northern Ireland (1 Feb 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I thank Senator Ó Donnghaile for his remarks, which are well noted. The position of the Government is clear and consistent. No matter where you are from, whether the shot was fired by a state actor or a non-state actor, everyone deserves access to justice. Every family deserves the truth on what happened to their loved one. The truth cannot be hidden away or written off as something...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (27 Jan 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I attended the General Affairs Council meeting on 25 January 2022 in Brussels. At the meeting, the French Presidency gave a presentation on the priorities for their presidency of the Council of the EU. The three overarching goals of the Presidency are a Sovereign Europe, a New European Model for Growth and Investment, and a ‘more human’ EU. Ireland supports the priorities of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (27 Jan 2022)

Thomas Byrne: In my role as Minister of State for European Affairs, I visited Poland from 8-10 December 2021. As an EU partner, this visit was an important opportunity to further Ireland’s bilateral relationship with Poland. During my visit, I met with Konrad Szymanski, Poland’s Minister for European Affairs and with Marcin Przydacz, Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister and...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Before I conclude, I will briefly answer one or two of the other points. Deputy O'Sullivan raised some interesting environmental and ecological points, which I will certainly bring those to the attention of our officials, regarding potentiality under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Deputy Cathal Crowe referred to Afghanistan. The situation is, obviously, very...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Deputy for raising the very important question of COVAX. It is always worthwhile remembering that nobody is getting everything right in this pandemic but with vaccine distribution around the world, the EU is getting much right. We are the biggest exporter and donor of vaccines around the world and we should be proud of that. As the Taoiseach said, we must do more, and all this...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Deputy. We are involved in various efforts to bring a resolution to this, particularly with regard to our membership of OSCE. There are a number of formats under that organisation to try to bring a resolution to this matter. OSCE provides a space for discussion between East and West, effectively Europe and Asia. It is a very important format. We have been to the fore in...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Thomas Byrne: As Deputy Brady knows, the Israeli-Palestinian situation was not on the agenda of the European Council.